Steamboat Springs  They played two more sets, but perhaps the first one decided it all.

The Hayden High School volleyball team came back from a nine-point deficit to stun Soroco in the first set of a Tuesday night showdown between the rivals. The Tigers then rode that momentum to a three-set victory, winning, 29-27, 25-20, 25-20.

“Had we lost that first one, it would have been a huge challenge to win the next three,” Hayden coach Christene Planansky said. “They had the crowd going. The mascot was there. It can get in your head pretty good.”

The Tigers trailed, 14-5, midway through that first set but rallied and eventually took the lead. Hayden and Soroco each whiffed on set-point opportunities before the Tigers finally cashed in.

Planansky pointed to standout performances from Olivia Zehner and Jordan Temple. Zehner served seven consecutive points and landed three aces to give Hayden a big leg up in the third set. Temple, meanwhile, proved a dominating force at the net.

“Jordan, her arm was on tonight,” Planansky said. “She had so many kills down the line. It was just kill after kill, then she’d switch it up and catch them off guard and tip it. Those two, they really took it tonight and led the team.”

The win gives Hayden a sweep in the season series after it defeated Soroco, 3-2, earlier this month. Soroco, 0-9, returns to the court at 7 p.m. Thursday at home against Rangely. Hayden, 6-3, plays at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at home against North Park.